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No-Bake Pistachio Cardamom Granola Bars

No-Bake Pistachio Cardamom Granola Bars

Chelsea Colbath
A simple, no-bake granola bar with a flavor reminiscent of baklava from the pistachios, honey, orange zest, and cardamom. This recipe can be doubled and baked in an 8-inch square pan for a larger batch!
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Time 20 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 3/4 cup oats
  • 1 cup raw pistachios roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup creamy almond butter
  • 1/3 cup raw honey see note for substitution ideas
  • zest from 1/2 an orange about 1 teaspoon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • 1. Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
  • 2. Put coconut, oats, and pistachios into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until coconut and oats start to turn brown. Some white, untoasted pieces are fine, but none of the nuts/oats should be turning black. Turn off the heat and let the coconut mixture cool slightly in the pan.
  • 3. While the coconut mixture cools, stir all remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Dump in toasted coconut mixture and stir well to combine. This mixture will seem too dry to form into bars, but don't worry, it will.
  • 4. Pour mixture into the prepared loaf pan and press with your hands to completely flatten. Be sure to push firmly so the bars are fully compressed. Wetting your fingers helps keep the mixture from sticking to you while you press it down.
  • 5. Transfer loaf pan to the fridge (at least 30 minutes) or the freezer (about 10 minutes) to allow the bars to firm up, then remove and slice into 8 squares. Store granola bars for up to 2 weeks (fridge) or 2 months (freezer). Their texture will be best when chilled, though still delicious (just a bit more crumbly) at room temperature.

Notes

I love the flavor of raw honey in these bars, but if you need to make a substitution, I'd recommend brown rice syrup or maybe agave. I've tried this recipe with maple syrup and found it isn't thick or sticky enough to hold these together.